Lighthouse MCP vs REA
A side-by-side look at the Lighthouse MCP and REA MCP servers: transport, auth, tools, quality signals, and the config to install either one in Claude, Cursor, Windsurf or VS Code.
Verdict: choose Lighthouse MCP for developer tools work as a local process; choose REA for developer tools as a local process. You can also run both side by side in one mcpServers block.
Which MCP server should you choose?
Choose Lighthouse MCP when
- You need dedicated capabilities in the Developer Tools domain.
- You prefer a local stdio subprocess transport.
- You want tools like
run_audit, get_performance_score.
Choose REA when
- You need dedicated capabilities in the Developer Tools domain.
- You prefer a local stdio subprocess transport.
- Its auth model fits you: No auth required.
Feature & specification comparison
Rows where the two servers differ are marked.
| Spec | ||
|---|---|---|
| Category | Developer Tools | Developer Tools |
| Quality signal | 65/100 · Great | 56/100 · Good |
| Install command | Confirmed | Confirmed |
| Transport | Local subprocess (stdio) | Local subprocess (stdio) |
| Auth | Not declared | No auth required |
| Pricing | Not declared | Free |
| Required env vars | None listed | None listed |
| Verified owner | Community listing | Community listing |
| GitHub stars | 212 | 385,218 |
| Directory activity | 4 views 0 installs 0 upvotes | 15 views 0 installs 0 upvotes |
| Tools | 2 | Not listed |
| Full listing | View Lighthouse MCP | View REA |
Tools & capabilities
Lighthouse MCP tools 2
run_auditRun a Lighthouse audit on a URLget_performance_scoreGet just the performance score for a URL
REA tools
No tool names declared yet. Check the project README from the listing page.
Ready-to-paste client configs
Paste either block (or both) into your client config, e.g. claude_desktop_config.json or ~/.cursor/mcp.json. We only show a config when the install command is confirmed.
Lighthouse MCP
{
"mcpServers": {
"lighthouse-mcp": {
"command": "npx",
"args": [
"lighthouse-mcp"
]
}
}
}
REA
{
"mcpServers": {
"rea": {
"command": "npx",
"args": [
"-y",
"rea-agents"
]
}
}
}
Frequently asked questions
Lighthouse MCP is categorized under Developer Tools and uses a local stdio subprocess. REA belongs to Developer Tools and uses a local stdio subprocess. Pick Lighthouse MCP for developer tools work and REA for developer tools.
Copy the mcpServers block from the config section on this page into your client's config (for example claude_desktop_config.json or ~/.cursor/mcp.json), then fully restart the client.
Lighthouse MCP has no declared pricing — check the project's own site. REA is listed as free. Auth: no auth required. If a server needs environment variables such as API keys, define them under the env key in your client's MCP config.
Yes. MCP clients support multiple servers: add lighthouse-mcp and rea as separate keys in the same mcpServers object, and your assistant will call tools from either one.
On AllMCPs, Lighthouse MCP has a quality signal of 65/100 (Great) with 4 views, 0 installs and 212 GitHub stars. REA has 56/100 (Good) with 15 views, 0 installs and 385,218 GitHub stars.